Light pollution woes

one_life · April 7

We picked up our trailer on Saturday and have been hanging out in it, in our driveway! We've noticed a couple of things:

1. During the day, and I imagine at night if there's a light source or full moon, the fan lets in a ton of light! Can anything be done to mitigate that?

2. Last night I slept in the trailer for a while, and oh my so much light! I figured out how to turn off most of the lights on the stereo with just a dim clock left. I can cover the little blue light on the TV with electrical tape (I don't think that will interfere with the remote but will have to try and see). The main one I'm worried about now is on the propane alarm under the bed which shines out onto the floor. SO.BRIGHT. I've looked it up online and apparently the alarm is both an audio and visual alarm - so putting tape over it might prevent us from getting an alarm or other valuable information about the status of the unit. How do you deal with that bright light?

Yoshi_TAB · April 8

Hi,

Re Fan; I use a sheet of black plastic velcroed around the perimeter. It works very well. It got a small tear the last time out (blue tape). We take it off each day. I also have a round one over the bathroom window we leave on all the time.

Re: Lights ; Like many, I put little 12V switches on both the TV and Jenson to turn those lights off. My propane detector is low below the bed and doesn't bother me.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/fe/shdymmb19glf.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/t6/325nbbp42ria.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/ep/qcbkbchd4d9w.jpg

Bayliss · April 8

@one_life, what year and model T@B do you have? Where is the CO2/Propane monitor located? Those answers will help others in providing suggestions. (NOTE: You can add this and other information to your signature line, which is helpful info that others can view when you post a question or share information about your particular camper.)

My CO2/Propane monitor is under the bed area in my 2019 320 S, so not an issue for me. I (and several others) have installed power cut-off switches for the radio and TV to eliminate those blue lights. Those switches also help with phantom drain of the battery.

Mickerly · April 8

For the TV or some of the other pilot lights, I used a black permanent marker. You can tell when the lights are on, but they are very dim. If you decide to clean them up, alcohol will remove permanent marker. It just wipes off.

marleecamps · April 8

I had the same problem when settling into my 2021 Tab 400- felt like a disco. So I bought these blackout dots and applied them everywhere. https://a.co/d/8fQX3G6

Made a world of difference. For the Jensen monitor, I simply place a postit note over it at night.

pthomas745 · April 8

Your Jensen may be able to go from "dim" to "off" as far as the lights go. The TV the same way...depending on the year of the trailer there are different fixes.

The gas monitor, depending on the year, has lights and beeps as part of the alarm. The combo of lights and beeps would give you the reason for the alarm...in theory.

EasternJL · April 8

Amazon sells little dimming dots for those little lights. I put them everywhere. Most of them are non-permanent and cheap. And you can get them in 100% blocking-- or 50%-80% blocking. Here's just one example....

https://www.amazon.com/SleepBetterCo-Blackout-Stickers-Different-Blocking/dp/B0D1YN872Q/ref=sr_1_18?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vtoubB2lp37iVXlpc3XvglDP7gfKzAkolVOS91R09tZ7u3VRvtZuAkLczEZQDaG-kTDEGhn3zeHKLnsMNtXxp2z4ZMPzg5Rx1zCPDIz03RovmcCA3BLHnaj0YURnjkes1fWC6p2tYYE_qW7VTRp9RTjpNY--__Wzz215pyHbOJ6YwB7LsmhNsNVWuyrSXH2wCYgLnaxKj9F1qQCc_Jra0EbiUcpMSDDSYxdBo4Bi7qEET3TBaCj6iVB7YBeIASqZ_8jLoU8KrSo6WhwIY8NVTl8fHJSzB8gS2obf6cfggH4.04vtpa2egkyWu2cWz20y9viUUpI9bnHK9nk_wkAAxyw&dib_tag=se&keywords=black+dots+for+lights&qid=1744112347&sr=8-18

one_life · April 8

I'm new to the forum - thanks for this reminder; I've just added it to my signature.

Bayliss said:

@one_life, what year and model T@B do you have?... (NOTE: You can add this and other information to your signature line, which is helpful info that others can view when you post a question or share information about your particular camper.)

pthomas745 · April 8

I am not sure which Jensen unit you have, but here are the instructions from the Manuals to turn off the LED's on three different models.

JWM-20

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/di/izh00hnwyzbb.jpg

JWM-70

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/gm/jzf5jb2jaxon.jpg

JWM-22

SLJ · April 8

The Fantastic fan in ours I put a black Camco rain cover over. Could keep it open in the rain and it blocks most if not all the light. https://amzn.to/4j8d6rw
I put everything else on a switch panel. Nothings on unless we're using it.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/4y/yaqmogpi35u8.jpg

one_life · April 8

Thanks to @EasternJL and @marleecamps for the idea about the black dots - I have ordered a packet of those and will try them out in the trailer AND in my bedroom at home.

one_life · April 8

@PThomas745 - Thank you. I did consult the manual and that's how I turned off the very bright button lighting. But I still have the dim clock which is apparently the "standby" mode. I didn't go out to the trailer after dark last night - will check tonight to see how bothersome it is, and if I need to install one of the switches mentioned above by @Bayliss and @Yoshi_TAB

one_life · April 8

@SLJ - thanks for the fan cover suggestion. I had seen this post https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/18466/roof-vent-fan-cover#latest and wondered if it was helpful with rain AND light mitigation. Might have to put it on my husband's "to be upgraded" list.

one_life · April 8

In my googling I discovered that apparently newer models have brighter lights - maybe that's why it hasn't been an issue for you? In my 2024, it seemed like someone was under the bed with a flashlight! A little bedskirt blocking the light would work, but I'd be worried about impeding airflow under the bed.

Bayliss said:

...My CO2/Propane monitor is under the bed area in my 2019 320 S, so not an issue for me...

CatDaddy · April 11

I find it easier to just wear an eye mask. My neighbors at home feel the need to light up the night like it's daylight so I'm already accustomed to wearing an eye mask.

B0atguy · April 14

For the overhead fan , we use a "Van Essentials" magnetic cover to block out the light . Just have to remove the fan trim ring and tape on some magnetic tabs provided . Once the trim ring is reinstalled , the magnetic light blocking cover just sticks onto the fan and is very easlity removed and stored in the included pouch . We love ours . The only draw back is that it might interfere with some knobs on the fan depending on which model. We have a Maxxair fan that is powered and the knob is just a manual back-up. We removed the knob and keep it in the toolbox just incase , but have never had to use it . The shade works great and comes in different colors. It is available on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/VanEssential-Magnetic-Insulated-Fantastic-Charcoal/dp/B0DT7PL555/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OVU23YV96A9O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EyEACrIJOAPb1CLAkRAWs8CUvgMxYKbaxiwE0ErcALs1BshcZPv6ie1JxRqIPUKiCEeGsR1LytS6nxNazwmv6P71wBnT3Dx4dq8KtVBstggrye52aG2gca1yFTykcwh6unkHzHmgXDa0naA5q9yJwrBLin61iTJ3pIIZER1Sc1ijN0a1juSy0Szy3hf-jUUuD1n_MVDKE73HyJk6jotHxHxaAjfsMB3Pdow9tNudsca_--HCI3lfkHXPxl9XpUgaBhyupysjtxMpvdzeNvvmUQp09j3RgaDf3CVJldAGho0.oZW0cykY2FY3z1AUZTFFUAiIT-cjsJ0mKK2OxPG0IHY&dib_tag=se&keywords=van%2Bessentials%2Bvent%2Bcover&qid=1744646517&sprefix=van%2Bessentials%2Bvent%2Bcover%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1&th=1

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

Categories

Light pollution woes

Comments